The Best Cairns Diving Courses
If you’re looking for the best Cairns diving course options, you’ve come to the right place! Known as the Gateway to the Great Barrier Reef, Cairns is a mecca for diving, snorkeling, and exploring the underwater world. There are lots of reputable local companies that offer diving courses for all types of divers. You can find beginner courses, advanced courses, liveaboard tours, or budget options.
It can be overwhelming trying to pick the perfect Cairns diving course for you because there are so many excellent options! To make your decision easier, we’ve compiled a list of the best Cairns diving courses so you can learn about the different options available.
Cairns Diving Courses
Due to its warm water with great visibility, and its proximity to the World Heritage-listed Great Barrier Reef, Cairns is one of the best places in Australia for diving. Whether you’re an experienced diver looking to enhance your skills, or you’re ready to hit the water for the first time, Cairns offers so many incredible opportunities to get underwater and learn. We’ll split up our list of the best Cairns diving courses into beginner courses and advanced courses, with a few different options for each.
Cairns Diving Courses For Beginners
Pro Dive 5-Day or 4-Day Course
One of the top companies in Cairns for diving is Pro Dive! They offer two amazing options for getting your PADI certification up in Cairns, both for similar prices. You can choose between a 5-day course or a 4-day course. Both include a 3-day, 2-night liveaboard experience where you can complete 9 dives on the Great Barrier Reef plus a night dive!
The 5-day course includes 2 days of classroom and pool training, whereas the 4-day course has 1 pool day and requires you to complete your online training before the first day. So if you prefer in-person learning, you may want to book the 5-day Pro Dive course. If you prefer the flexibility of e-learning, choose the 4-day Pro Dive Course!
Divers Den Liveaboard Open Water Course
Another one of the best companies for a Cairns diving course is Divers Den. With both liveaboard options and budget options, you can learn to dive on the reef in a way that suits you. The liveaboard option allows you to spend one or two nights on the reef in addition to two days of classroom and pool learning. The flexibility of this course means you can fit your PADI course into your own schedule and budget!
Divers Den 3-Day or 4-Day Budget Courses
Divers Den also offers budget diving courses that include 1 or 2 days of classroom and pool training plus two day trips to the reef. Excluding the overnight liveaboard reduces the price, so choosing these options will help you save money while learning to dive. The 3-day course includes e-learning to be completed in advanced, whereas the 4-day course includes two days of classroom learning.
Reef Encounter
The last learn-to-dive option on our list is Reef Encounter's 3-Day Open Water Course. This 3-day, 2-night liveaboard gives you the chance to immerse yourself in the natural beauty of the Great Barrier Reef and become a certified diver. You can even add an extra day to your course if you want more time in the water!
This beginner dive course with Reef Encounter includes 8 day time diving lessons at various reef sites. They pair each instructor with a maximum of 4 students so you get an intimate, personalized experience. Like all other liveaboards, your dive equipment and meals are all included!
Advanced Cairns Dive Courses
Divers Den
For an epic experience diving on the reef and improving your skills, choose the Divers De Advanced PADI Liveaboard. If you're a certified diver, you can sign up for a 2-day or 3-day liveaboard and take on 7-11 dives at some incredible reef sites. There is no classroom time, just real-life experience in the reef where you can learn from qualified instructors and have a blast trying different types of dives like night dives, deep dives, or navigation dives.
Divers Den also offers a Scuba Refresher Course for those who are looking to regain their confidence underwater. If you're a certified diver but you haven't dived in a while, this is a great way to refresh your skills. It's just a quick half-cay course at a heated pool in Cairns, so it's an easy and convenient way to prepare for another trip out to the reef!
Pro Dive Advanced PADI Liveaboard
Another one of the best Cairns dive courses for advanced divers is offered by Pro Dive. This 3-day, 2-night Liveaboard allows you to spend quality time with qualified PADI instructors so you can gain your Advanced Open Water Certification. Visit four spectacular outer reef sites and partake in 11 dives, including core dives and elective dives. There is no better way to become a pro diver than aboard a comfortable liveaboard on the Great Barrier Reef!
Reef Encounter SSI Diver Stress and Rescue Course
If you want to take your dive skills to the next level, take a stress and rescue course with Reef Encounter. During a 4-day, 3-night liveaboard experience, you'll learn about safety and rescue procedures over the course of 14 dives, with both training and recreational dives included. You'll get academic and practical training, as well as First Aid, CPR, and Oxygen Administration. If you're thinking of making a career out of diving, this course is essential.
